How Do You Save Money?

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
I now go to the thrift shop. I got 5 pairs of slacks for less than 18.00. last week. They are regular and dress slacks. I will have to hem 2 of them but the rest are fine as they are.

I also shop at Aldi's all the time. Everything cost a lot less.

What are your ways to save money?
 

Pay yourself first! It doesn't matter if you use payroll savings to funnel money into a savings account or put a few bucks into the sugar bowl every month when you get your Social Security. Regularly saving small amounts of money adds up over time.

Having cash on hand or being open to buy is another big way to save money. For me that is the big difference between being broke and being poor. When you are stone cold broke you have to buy small amounts of things as you need them, often at inflated prices. Living comfortably on a small income requires having a little cash stashed away to take advantage of the bargains that pop up unexpectedly. It also takes a little restraint to examine your needs and wants. Be honest with yourself and only buy what you really need. Two elephants for a quarter is only a bargain if you really need two elephants.

I do most of the basic active forms of saving like going to the dead bread store, shopping in no frills grocery stores, thrift shops, etc...

I also practice passive saving with the things that I don't do. I don't grab a coffee or hit the fast food restaurants when I'm out running errands, I don't have cable television, I don't buy on credit, etc...

I also have a couple of cautions about saving. I don't believe in saving by stealing, cheating or gaming the system. Don't stop being generous about donating to charity and helping others. If what you are doing makes you miserable then look for another way to save. Finally have a clear understanding of why you are going to the trouble of saving, I see no point in being a miser. If you don't have a clear goal or need then why bother saving, just relax and take life as it comes.

Good luck!
 
When I knew I was going to be retiring, I bought a large upright freezer. I cook a few times a month and stock the freezer with homemade bread and other baked goods along with everything I need for a nice variety of meals. I cook and bake in quantity and freeze in meal-size portions. I make nearly everything I eat from scratch. It's surprisingly inexpensive to eat well and requires little effort on my part. I'm creating a raised vegetable garden so hopefully I can grow my own next year and save some trips to the farmers market.

The only paper product I buy is toilet paper, having made my own cloth napkins, handkerchiefs and cleaning cloths that work better than paper (I bought bolts of high quality linen and fine cotton on sale years ago and still haven't used them up). I also make my own shampoo, toothpaste, facial cleaner, shower gel and moisturizers. Some of this began out of necessity because most scented products make me sick. I rarely buy anything off the shelves. I don't use meds of any kind and only go to the doctor when I can't keep from it.

I make my own dish detergent and found a very inexpensive clothes detergent that works better than anything in the grocery store. All of my clothes are cotton or linen and are washable so no dry cleaning expenses. I have a great little low maintenance putt-putt car that gets 40 mpg and takes me everywhere I need to go.

My biggest luxuries are streaming TV and Kindle, although my local library has been amassing a selection of ebooks that I can access from home.
 
Hey, Smiling Jane, I make my own shampoo, as well, and I use the same inexpensive liquid detergent for washing clothes and washing dishes. I don't buy any all-purpose or special cleaning products for around the house...i.e.; I just use plain hot water to mop the floors and wipe down the woodwork. I do make a disinfectant cleanser for the bathroom fixtures, though.

Other than refusing to spend money on products I don't need, I'm not as thrifty as I probably should be. I keep emergency money socked away, for if my car needs repairs or such as that, but I'm not saving up for anything.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Pay yourself first! It doesn't matter if you use payroll savings to funnel money into a savings account or put a few bucks into the sugar bowl every month when you get your Social Security. Regularly saving small amounts of money adds up over time.

Having cash on hand or being open to buy is another big way to save money. For me that is the big difference between being broke and being poor. When you are stone cold broke you have to buy small amounts of things as you need them, often at inflated prices. Living comfortably on a small income requires having a little cash stashed away to take advantage of the bargains that pop up unexpectedly. It also takes a little restraint to examine your needs and wants. Be honest with yourself and only buy what you really need. Two elephants for a quarter is only a bargain if you really need two elephants.

I do most of the basic active forms of saving like going to the dead bread store, shopping in no frills grocery stores, thrift shops, etc...

I also practice passive saving with the things that I don't do. I don't grab a coffee or hit the fast food restaurants when I'm out running errands, I don't have cable television, I don't buy on credit, etc...

I also have a couple of cautions about saving. I don't believe in saving by stealing, cheating or gaming the system. Don't stop being generous about donating to charity and helping others. If what you are doing makes you miserable then look for another way to save. Finally have a clear understanding of why you are going to the trouble of saving, I see no point in being a miser. If you don't have a clear goal or need then why bother saving, just relax and take life as it comes.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks for giving us those tips!

Laurie said:
The only surefire wat I know is by not spending it, and that ain't easy!
Click to expand...
So true that is! I have to spend money on food, utilities, gas. I do get HEAP to help with the winter gas bill. Many may be able to get it if they qualify.
 
Smiling Jane said:
When I knew I was going to be retiring, I bought a large upright freezer. I cook a few times a month and stock the freezer with homemade bread and other baked goods along with everything I need for a nice variety of meals. I cook and bake in quantity and freeze in meal-size portions. I make nearly everything I eat from scratch. It's surprisingly inexpensive to eat well and requires little effort on my part. I'm creating a raised vegetable garden so hopefully I can grow my own next year and save some trips to the farmers market.

The only paper product I buy is toilet paper, having made my own cloth napkins, handkerchiefs and cleaning cloths that work better than paper (I bought bolts of high quality linen and fine cotton on sale years ago and still haven't used them up). I also make my own shampoo, toothpaste, facial cleaner, shower gel and moisturizers. Some of this began out of necessity because most scented products make me sick. I rarely buy anything off the shelves. I don't use meds of any kind and only go to the doctor when I can't keep from it.

I make my own dish detergent and found a very inexpensive clothes detergent that works better than anything in the grocery store. All of my clothes are cotton or linen and are washable so no dry cleaning expenses. I have a great little low maintenance putt-putt car that gets 40 mpg and takes me everywhere I need to go.

My biggest luxuries are streaming TV and Kindle, although my local library has been amassing a selection of ebooks that I can access from home.
Click to expand...
Sounds good Jane.
 
I try to adhere to my grandmother's depression-era mantra: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. "Try" being the operative word!

I only use my checking account for paying bills and buying groceries. After my bills are paid, I get cash, and when the cash "allowance" is gone, it's gone until the next deposit to my account is made, one on the first of the month and one around the middle of the month.

Definitely Aldi for groceries! The Goodwill store is a treasure trove for a lot of things like clothes, small appliances, dishes, pots & pans, even jewelry. I only started going there because my g'daughter loves it. She'd want to go "Goodwill shopping" and would invite me to go along. Dang! They have clothes that have never even had the original retail tags removed. Shopping for clothes there requires a lot of time and a lot of patience, but hey! I'm retired, remember? Nowhere to go and all the time in the world to get there. LOL

Aunt Bea, "dead bread" store! We had one in the small town where I used to live, but there's not one close to me here. If wishes were horses...

Going to farmers' markets close to the end of their day can yield some real bargains on fresh fruit and veggies.

There are probably lots of others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
 
Cap'nSacto said:
Hey, Smiling Jane, I make my own shampoo, as well, and I use the same inexpensive liquid detergent for washing clothes and washing dishes. I don't buy any all-purpose or special cleaning products for around the house...i.e.; I just use plain hot water to mop the floors and wipe down the woodwork. I do make a disinfectant cleanser for the bathroom fixtures, though.
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of washing soda, baking soda and vinegar for cleaning nearly everything. My detergent is basically washing soda and part of the reason it's so great (beyond only using a tablespoon for a washer load) is that it cleans all the way down to the fiber so I don't need stain removers or fabric softeners. I use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for disinfecting.

Does your shampoo use coconut milk as a base, or castile soap? I go back and forth.

The most important question of all, why do so many men on this and other forums call themselves Captain? Is that some kind of guy thing? Inquiring minds and all that.
 
When I started working, an old gent named Earl, who I worked with, always repeated his mantra "Curb yer' desires, Ace"! I learned over time that he was talking about self control, when it comes to spending. Another tip I read: "Its not your salary that makes you rich, it's your spending habits".:)
 
GeorgiaXplant, the vendors at farmers markets here will give discount coupons if you ask for them and sometimes when you don't. They're a great deal and I've found some growers like to help seniors by giving us more produce than we paid for. I thought about signing up with a CFA but it's too much for me to keep up with and it's bad when a bunch of things I don't really like get ripe at the same time.

I sure wish we had Aldi's. We have Trader Joe's and they're the best place to buy some things, but not as cheap as Aldi's. Maybe that chain will get here eventually.
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
I try to adhere to my grandmother's depression-era mantra: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. "Try" being the operative word!

I only use my checking account for paying bills and buying groceries. After my bills are paid, I get cash, and when the cash "allowance" is gone, it's gone until the next deposit to my account is made, one on the first of the month and one around the middle of the month.

Definitely Aldi for groceries! The Goodwill store is a treasure trove for a lot of things like clothes, small appliances, dishes, pots & pans, even jewelry. I only started going there because my g'daughter loves it. She'd want to go "Goodwill shopping" and would invite me to go along. Dang! They have clothes that have never even had the original retail tags removed. Shopping for clothes there requires a lot of time and a lot of patience, but hey! I'm retired, remember? Nowhere to go and all the time in the world to get there. LOL

Aunt Bea, "dead bread" store! We had one in the small town where I used to live, but there's not one close to me here. If wishes were horses...

Going to farmers' markets close to the end of their day can yield some real bargains on fresh fruit and veggies.

There are probably lots of others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
Click to expand...
Great ideas. I got several pairs of slacks with the tags still on them. They are really nice and I know they were expensive.
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
I try to adhere to my grandmother's depression-era mantra: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. "Try" being the operative word!

I only use my checking account for paying bills and buying groceries. After my bills are paid, I get cash, and when the cash "allowance" is gone, it's gone until the next deposit to my account is made, one on the first of the month and one around the middle of the month.

Definitely Aldi for groceries! The Goodwill store is a treasure trove for a lot of things like clothes, small appliances, dishes, pots & pans, even jewelry. I only started going there because my g'daughter loves it. She'd want to go "Goodwill shopping" and would invite me to go along. Dang! They have clothes that have never even had the original retail tags removed. Shopping for clothes there requires a lot of time and a lot of patience, but hey! I'm retired, remember? Nowhere to go and all the time in the world to get there. LOL

Aunt Bea, "dead bread" store! We had one in the small town where I used to live, but there's not one close to me here. If wishes were horses...

Going to farmers' markets close to the end of their day can yield some real bargains on fresh fruit and veggies.

There are probably lots of others, but I can't think of them off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Grandmothers were pretty smart!

Sometimes it's good to ask yourself: If my grandmother didn't have it do I really need it or what would my grandmother have done in this situation.
 
The biggest part of my budget is food and supplies. So I do my best to cut down on the size of meals so that there are no leftovers. I only buy what I need in small quantities and of course shop at sales.

Then I come up with crazy schemes.

Our laundry costs us $3.00 a wash and $2.00 to dry.

But the dryer is huge.

So what I do is wait for two washes and one dry. So every wash day I am saving $2.00.

That buys me coffee with the boys. We have a coffee gang that meets every day.

And I don't spend money unless I absolutely have to on computers printers or whatever.

My friend laughs at me. I tell him I'm easily satisfied.

I had a good time with my money when I was young. Now that I am old, I'm easily satisfied.
 
Camper6 said:
The biggest part of my budget is food and supplies. So I do my best to cut down on the size of meals so that there are no leftovers. I only buy what I need in small quantities and of course shop at sales.

Then I come up with crazy schemes.

Our laundry costs us $3.00 a wash and $2.00 to dry.

But the dryer is huge.

So what I do is wait for two washes and one dry. So every wash day I am saving $2.00.

That buys me coffee with the boys. We have a coffee gang that meets every day.

And I don't spend money unless I absolutely have to on computers printers or whatever.

My friend laughs at me. I tell him I'm easily satisfied.

I had a good time with my money when I was young. Now that I am old, I'm easily satisfied.
Click to expand...
Great ideas. Your laundry costs more than mine. To wash it's 1.95 and to dry it's 1.75. My laundry was really piled up so it cost me about 40.00 the past few weeks to do it all and dry it, too! I had a ton to do, lots of sets of sheets mostly.
 
I always have cash with me so that I can take advantage of buying from a private party. I go to yard sales.

I buy most of my non-perishable groceries online and in case lots. Amazon Subscribe & Save is particularly good. eBay often has good deals as well. Walmart isn't as good as it was. They try to get people to pick up orders at the store, but I like to have it shipped. I do buy some fancy perishable foods online as well. I often buy from outside the country. This isn't cheap, but it's good.

I use propane for my gas appliances. I buy when prices are low. I have two large tanks.

I wear casual clothes almost all of the time. I love L.L. Bean. They have all kinds of good deals at this time of the year along with a full inventory. I advise everyone to take a look.

http://www.dartagnan.com/

https://www.britishcornershop.co.uk... Shop&utm_content=British Corner Shop (Exact)

Here's the best place for potato sausage and other goodies.

https://koenemannsausage.com/
 
We cut the cable as well. And while we missed the premium channels at first, we do not as much now. We watch TV off antenna as well as stream Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime movies. Hubby's one indulgence is he bought a small TV, and has Amazon Fire on it. He can watch Hulu and Netflix on it. And I can watch them on our big TV as well.
When the lease on my car expires next year, we are going to turn it in and go down to 1 car. We will both be retired by then. I cook a lot of soups to put in the freezer. One Wednesday a month I go to the bread outlet store to stock up, because as well as the outlet prices, I get a senior discount. We had considered getting a stand alone chest freezer, but we really do not have space for it.
I never much cared for Aldi, but shop alot at Price Rite. Get good deals there, and now they accept coupons.
 
Big Horn said:
I always have cash with me so that I can take advantage of buying from a private party. I go to yard sales.

I buy most of my non-perishable groceries online and in case lots. Amazon Subscribe & Save is particularly good. eBay often has good deals as well. Walmart isn't as good as it was. They try to get people to pick up orders at the store, but I like to have it shipped. I do buy some fancy perishable foods online as well. I often buy from outside the country. This isn't cheap, but it's good.

I use propane for my gas appliances. I buy when prices are low. I have two large tanks.

I wear casual clothes almost all of the time. I love L.L. Bean. They have all kinds of good deals at this time of the year along with a full inventory. I advise everyone to take a look.

http://www.dartagnan.com/

https://www.britishcornershop.co.uk... Shop&utm_content=British Corner Shop (Exact)

Here's the best place for potato sausage and other goodies.

https://koenemannsausage.com/
Click to expand...
Thanks for all the good tips Big Horn.
 
Marie5656 said:
We cut the cable as well. And while we missed the premium channels at first, we do not as much now. We watch TV off antenna as well as stream Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime movies. Hubby's one indulgence is he bought a small TV, and has Amazon Fire on it. He can watch Hulu and Netflix on it. And I can watch them on our big TV as well.
When the lease on my car expires next year, we are going to turn it in and go down to 1 car. We will both be retired by then. I cook a lot of soups to put in the freezer. One Wednesday a month I go to the bread outlet store to stock up, because as well as the outlet prices, I get a senior discount. We had considered getting a stand alone chest freezer, but we really do not have space for it.
I never much cared for Aldi, but shop alot at Price Rite. Get good deals there, and now they accept coupons.
Click to expand...
Some Aldi's are better than others I noticed. I don't know of Price Rite; I don't think it's in my area. Do you have to pay for Wifi to have netflix and hulu? Good tips!
 
Ruthanne said:
Some Aldi's are better than others I noticed. I don't know of Price Rite; I don't think it's in my area. Do you have to pay for Wifi to have netflix and hulu? Good tips!
Click to expand...

In some areas of the US Price Rite is also known as Shop Rite. I just like that they have more of a selection of items, their own brands as well as national brands. Yep, even though we watch Hulu And Netflix on our TVs, we still need internet access. Our big TV is a SmarTV, and we have several apps on it. Including Youtube, and some free apps.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Pay yourself first! It doesn't matter if you use payroll savings to funnel money into a savings account or put a few bucks into the sugar bowl every month when you get your Social Security. Regularly saving small amounts of money adds up over time.

Having cash on hand or being open to buy is another big way to save money. For me that is the big difference between being broke and being poor. When you are stone cold broke you have to buy small amounts of things as you need them, often at inflated prices. Living comfortably on a small income requires having a little cash stashed away to take advantage of the bargains that pop up unexpectedly. It also takes a little restraint to examine your needs and wants. Be honest with yourself and only buy what you really need. Two elephants for a quarter is only a bargain if you really need two elephants.

I do most of the basic active forms of saving like going to the dead bread store, shopping in no frills grocery stores, thrift shops, etc...

I also practice passive saving with the things that I don't do. I don't grab a coffee or hit the fast food restaurants when I'm out running errands, I don't have cable television, I don't buy on credit, etc...

I also have a couple of cautions about saving. I don't believe in saving by stealing, cheating or gaming the system. Don't stop being generous about donating to charity and helping others. If what you are doing makes you miserable then look for another way to save. Finally have a clear understanding of why you are going to the trouble of saving, I see no point in being a miser. If you don't have a clear goal or need then why bother saving, just relax and take life as it comes.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Great ideas and advice, Bea!

Being miserly is different from being able to put something into savings for future use.
 
Ruthanne said:
Thanks for all the good tips Big Horn.
Click to expand...
Now, I'll give you the best tip: if you can find it on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or any other overpriced supplier of electronic entertainment, you can find it on youtube, the television network, or a myriad of independent websites without charge. There's no reason to spend hundreds of dollars per year for this garbage.

Some youtube videos aren't available in this country. Simply download the Tor browser and reset it until it shows that it's receiving from another country. Do a search for free television shows. Don't use Google; all you'll get will be ads. Use https://duckduckgo.com/. It's the best search engine as they don't track you. Searches are all objective. Search https://ahmia.fi/ as well. You'll need the Tor browser to go to the results because it searches the deep net only. You can, however, see them on any browser. You can search the clear net from the darknet if you use DuckDuckGo's mirror website. http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/


Learn about Tor and the deep net. You cannot link to the deep net from a regular browser. For example, the New York Times deep net or dark net website is https://www.nytimes3xbfgragh.onion/. You can only access it through the Tor Browser.

https://www.torproject.org/

https://www.deepdotweb.com/
 
I look through the weekly ads in the newspaper to see who has what on sale in the supermarkets, will cut a coupon or two if needed to buy at the discount price. When I think of it, I shop on the senior discount day at the market, usually only one day a month, but if you're buying steaks, seafood, the total savings is worth it.

We used to make inexpensive meals, like just browning some ground beef and onions and serving it over wide noodles. A crock pot of beans goes a long way too, usually Great Northern, but Kidney, Black, etc. just as good. Made with garlic and onions only for vegetarian, or add a little cubed ham or bacon for meat flavor, don't need much.

If I use one of those big zip lock baggies just for a loaf of bread, some bagels, open sleeve of crackers, etc., I just wash it out and reuse it.
 
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